The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-29
GERMAN MEM0RIALISTS.
They present the Grievances of Their So
Neties to the Police Commissioners

There was special session of the Police Com
missioners yesterday noon for the purpose of
receiving a memorial from the German So
ceties relative to the action of the police in
regard to the selling of beer at their entertain
ments. None of the representatives of the
several societies went before the board, but
early in the morning Charles Baden, of the
German Tribune. placed upon Secretary Sny-
der's desk two communications, one signed by
representatives of the Mannerchor the Social
Turnverein, the I1iederkranz, and of all the
other German societies except the Lyra. The
other was from Philip Rappaport, the leader of
the Socialists, calling attention to their recent
meeting at Mozart Hall, and censuring
the police for medaling with .a what +
Secretary Snyder read the one coming from the
societies. but that of Mr.. Rappaport, covering
about twenty pages of legal cap, passed
over for attention in the future. The societies
memorial. prepared at meeting of representa-
tives from all the German societies, except the
Mannerchor and the Lyra, held Sunday, was
not lengthy. The two latter refused to have
anything to do with it. as they had no cause for
complaint. but yesterday morning one member
of the Mnnnerchor put his name to the docu-
ment before it went 70 the board. The memo
rial calls attention to the fact that it is the first
time in the history of the city that the police
have interfered with the innocent habit
of the German societies to have wine
and beer at their entertainments and sell
it to their members. The custom
has never been considered destructive to the
morals of the community. and has never before
| Teen termed unlawful This Interpretation, the
memoriasts assert, has only been put upon i,
by the present Police Commissioners. who seem
to be determined to enforce the law. not ac
cording to its spirit, but according to its letter
They then charge that no steps are being taken
to enforce the laws against disreputable houses
and gambling, and numerous offenses that fo1
years have been dead letter.
After the reading of the memorial it was de
| cided not to act upon it until the regular meet
| ing which will be held next Monday. Without
any discussion of its merits the board went &c
other business Superintendent Travis sub
| mitted his plan for the establishment of three
| sergeancy districts in the city, which was dis
| cussed in an informal way. 1t met with favor
| and Mr.. Elan suggested that it would be well t
establish one district first as an experiment
Definite action, however, was postponed unit
| the regular meeting. Timothy Miller was ap
| pointed an extra patrolman. and the board ther
| adjourned.
superintendent Travis said last evening, tina
he did not attach any significance to the filing o
the memorial by the German societies. 9TH,
| commissioned said he, 'have never discussed
the question in any of their meetings. TIE,
cannot formulate any policy. They want thu
laws enforced, and that is what am doing. 0
course there is dividing line. The M@Dnercho
and the Lyra are making no objections. 7 an
having no trouble with them Where only mem
bers are admitted to society meeting
l have not disturbed them. and an
not going to do So But when tickets are
sold promiscrously. and any person can 60 i,
and drink | propose to treat them as do tn
saloons. No society can meet and sell beer in
discriminatory simply because it may have som
| standing as an organization. / am misrepre
| sented to some extent in the memorial 1t say
that on some occasions have had ten and twelv
men off of their regular beats to watch societies
| That is not so. AT no time have more than tire
men visited any one place. except on the nigh
of the assault on the officers by the Socialists a
| Mozart Hail. There we're only two men Their
| until the bottles were thrown at them"